Tube frame for axminster looms



Sept. 25, 1951 W. Y. ROBE TUBE FRAME FOR AXMINSTER LOOMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 19, 1948 FIG.|

FIG.3

INVENTOR WALTER Y. ROBE QM W ATTORNEY Sept; 25, 1951 w. Y. ROBB TUBE FRAME FOR AXMINSTER LOOMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 19, 1948 INVENTOR WALTER Y. ROBE 5m ATTORNEY spool.

Patented Sept. 25, 1951 TUBE FRAME FOR AXMINSTER LOOMS Walter Y. Robb, Whitinsville, Mass., assignor to Crompton & Knowles Loom Works, Worcester, Mass, a corporation-of Massachusetts Application May 19, 1948, Serial No. 27,971

Claims.

present the tube frames one at a time to a transfer station. After arriving at the transfer station a tube frame is detached from the chains and lowered for a tuft forming operation during the latter part of which it is raised to draw ofi enough yarn for the next operation. The tufts are then cut from the spool and the tube frame returned to the chains.

In wide Axminster looms the tube frames tend to sa during the tuft forming operation and it has always been necessary heretofore to provide some form of brace such as a center support to keep the tube frame straight while a row of tufts is being formed. It is an important object of my present invention to obviate the need for center supports by making the tube frame with a carrier bar having formed integral therewith a reinforcing shell or fin running lengthwise of the tube frame and part at least of which extends about half way around the extrusion from a light weight'metal, such as aluminum or magnesium, or an alloy thereof.

Tube frames constructed according to previous practice have been made of metals which rust due to humidity conditions in the weave shed. This rusting not only damages the tube frame but also interferes with free passage of the tuft yarns across the carrier bar and through the tuft yarn tubes. It is a further object of the invention to provide a metallic tube frame the yarn engaging parts of which are made of metals which do not rust or corrode to the end that any surfaces which the tuft yarns engage shall be smooth and clean. 7

In the past it has been common practice to make the yarn tubes of fiat sheet steel bent in such a way as to have overlapping edges extending along that part of the tube next to the carrier bar. The overlapped edges have sharp corners which entangle the tuft yarns passing through the yarn tubes. It is a further object of the invention to make the tuft yarn tubes of seamless tubular stock which is continuous around its periphery with no sharp edges or exposed corners to entangle the tuft yarns.

Because of the sharp edges present in previous yarn tubes it has been necessary to provide a guard bead or the like to prevent the yarns from engaging the sharp corners at the upper ends of the yarn tubes. When the seamless The bar and its fin may be made as an tubes set forth herein are used the guard bead can be omitted.

There is a present tendency to use yarn spools of increased diameter so they will hold more yarn than the smaller spools heretofore used. When yarn is drawn from a full spool it approaches the yarn tubes in a direction which tends to draw the yarn toward the narrower part of the yarn passage in the yarn tube. The latter have heretofore been made with their upper or yarn receiving ends inclined forwardly and downwardly away from the spool and carrier bar, and because of this fact a knot in a strand of yarn approaching the mouth of the tube is directed toward the small part of the yarn passage. This condition is accentuated when large diameter spools are used. It is a further object of my present invention to form the receiving mouths of the yarn tubes in such manner that a knot in the yarn will be directed toward the wider part of the yarn passage in the tube.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a series of short flat carrier plates or the like to which the yarn tubes are welded or otherwise secured. 'These plates and their tubes form tube units which are secured in alignment to the front wall 'of the carrier bar. Because of the'fact that the yarn tubes are seamless the yarns can be fed directly along the fiat plates to the widest part of the yarn passageways in the yarn tubes.

Tube frames are ordinarily supported by end brackets which have parallel arms extending into the hollow bar of the tube frame. In order to provide ample anchorage for the screws which secure the aforesaid tube units to the bar it is a further object of the invention to form the bar with an internal integral rib located between the arms of the bracket in such position as not to interfere with insertion of the arms into the bar.

In long tube frames it is necessary to provide center or intermediate bearings for the yarn spools. It is a further object of the invention to utilize one of these bearings as a brace to connect the reinforcing fin to the rectangular part of the carrier bar.

With these and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein three forms of yarn tubes are set forth,

Fig. 1 is-a side elevation of part of an Axthe positions which the tube frame assumes during the tuft forming operation,

Fig. '7 is a view similar to apart of Fig. 3 but shows the first modified form of yarn tube,

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but shows the 7 second modified form of yarn tube,

Fig; 9 is a front elevation'of a relatively long tube frame with the preferred form of the invention applied thereto,

Fig. 10 is a vertical section on line Ill-40, Fig. 9, and

Fig. 11- is a perspective view of the extruded carrier bar before it is altered for use in the tube frame shown in Fig. 9.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, the tube frame conveyor system comprises two transporting chains 10 and l l between which extend the tube frames T; The chains move down around a .so-called pullover shaft 12 which turns periodically in such manner as to stop the chains with a tube frame at a transfer station under the pullover shaft. A transfer arm is provided with a clutch I 4, one at each side of the loom, then moves toward the tube frame to detach it from the chains, after which the tube frame is lowered and tilted to the position indicated in Fig. 6. The tube frame is then moved forwardly with respect to the warp W to the vertical position shown in Fig. 1. The lay l then beats up and the tube frame is given a slight upward movement to pull' off enough yarn for its next tuft 'forming operation, after which the front and back cutters l6 and I1, respectively, cut the tuft yarns from the tube "frame. The latter is then returned to the chains and another angular movement of the pullover shaft brings the next tube frame to the transfer station.

During the lifting of the tube frame preparatory to cutting of the tufts there is considerable downward force exerted tending to produce sagging of the tube frame. It has been customary heretofore to provide'some form of center support to correct or prevent this sagging, but in the present instance I can omit such support because the tube frame is made sufficiently strong to withstand objectionable bending.

The tube frame is made substantially as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. The carrier bar '20 has front and back walls 21 and 22 at the left and right, respectively, of Fig. 3, connected by top and bottom walls 23 and 24, respectively. Integral with the carrier bar-is an elongated substantially semi-cylindrical reinforcing -member or fin 25. This fin 25 extends as shown in Fig. 3 from the back andtop walls- 22 and 23 and extends lengthwise of the tube frame for the greater part receive a bracket or ear 3!]. The latter may be made of two parts one of which is a spool bearing member 3| having a horizontal arm 32 projecting into the carrier bar along the under side of the top wall 23 and secured thereto by means of screws 33. A second member 35 of the bracket 30 secured to the member 3| has an offset tongue 36 for cooperation with a transporting chain and has a lower arm 31 extending into the carrier bar along the top of the bottom wall 24 to which it is secured by screws 38. A suspension hook 39 pivoted on the bracket 30 ordinarily engages a transporting chain to support the tube frame, but is moved to releasing position by the clutch l4 whenever the tube frame is to be removed from the chain.

The spool bearings 3|, of which there is one at each end of the tube frame, support the yarn spool designated generally at S on which the tuft yarns Y are wound. In actual practice this spool will be made of several separate aligned units when the tube frame is made for wide looms. Suitable friction devices may be employed to control rotation of the spool S with respect to the tube frame, but these are not illustrated herein. As shown in Fig. 3 the spool will turn in a counterclockwise direction to permit downward feeding of the tuft yarns.

Arranged along the front of the carrier bar is a series of hollow elongated members or yarn tubes 40 through which the tuft yarns Y pass. These yarn tubes, the preferred form of which is shown in Fig. 3, are seamless so that they will be continuous in transverse section a shown in Fig. 5. Each yarn tube member has an elongated passageway 4I through which a yarn Y passes and this passageway is shaped approximately as shown in Fig. 5 with a narrow forward part 42 and a wider rear part 43. The wide part of each passageway is adjacent to the carrier bar 20.

A group of tubes are secured to a vertical flat plate 45 extending along the front wall 2! 0f the carrier bar. The yarn tubes have their upper right hand parts as viewed in Fig. 3 secured to the plate 45 in any approved manner, as by welding or copper or silver brazing or soldering, and with the plate form a yarn tube unit. The yarn tubes 40 are preferably made of a noncorroding material, such as stainless steel or similar non-corroding ferrous alloy, and the plate 45 may also be made of a similar metal.

The plate 45 is relatively short, being preferably of a length which is an aliquot fraction of a quarter of a yard, such as three inches. A number of these plates or yarn tube units are arranged along the front wall of the carrier bar so that the yarn tubes will be aligned in the usual manner lengthwise of the bar 20.

The plates 45 are secured to the front wall only of the carrier bar 20 by means of screws 46 which are tapped into a rib 41 formed integrally with the carrier bar 20 on the inner part of the front wall 2| and extending lengthwise of the latter. This rib is of sufiicient thickness to afford firm anchorage for the screws 46 and is spaced from the top and bottom walls 23 and 24 sufficiently to afford room for the top and bottom arms 32 and 31 of the bracket 30. The screws 46 are preferably uniformly spaced along the carrier bar, although I do not wish to be limited to this particular arrangement. The plates are rigid enough to be held firmly in place by screws located above the yarn tubes.

Each yarn tube 40 used with the preferred form of the invention has its upper end beveled at 48 memos downwardly and forwardly from bar 2|]. The

upper end of the tube may be expandedto form a bell shaped or enlarged yarnreceiving mouth 49 similar to those customarilyused.

In the first modified form of the invention the yarn tube 50, see Fig. 7, may be substantially as described in connection with Figs. 3 and 4,but the top edge'5l thereof will be substantially perpendicular to the yarn passageway or plane of the front wall 2| of the carrier bar so that a knotlc'in any yarn Y feeding down to the yarn tube 50 tangentially from a full large diameter spool and engaging the upper edge of the tube will be directed from the narrow part 42 toward the wider part 43 of the yarn passage 4|. Theline a, Fig. 7, indicates the path which the yarn may follow under these conditions. 'Theknot R: will, because of the angular relation between the line a and the top of the entering mouth 5|, be directed to the right, Fig. 7, toward the wider side 43 of the passage 4|. This relation is of particular value when part of the spool overhangs the carrier bar 20 and would be in the path of extensions of the yarn passages 4|.

In the second modification shown in Fig. 8 the upper end of the yarn tube 55 is inclined at 56 upwardly andaway from the wall 2|. A yarn tube thus formed will direct a knot in a strand of yarn toward the wider part 43 of the yarn passage 4|. The yarn receiving mouths or upper ends of all previous forms of yarntubes haveentangled the 'tu'ft yarns Y. Also, the previously used guard Furthermore, the interior of the carrier bar is formed with a reinforcing rib 41 to afford ample anchorage for the screws 46 of the tube units, but this rib is spaced from the top and bottom Walls 23 and 24-so that the arms '32 and 31 of bracket forms of the yarn tubes are smooth and free from yarn entangling projections or the like. The yarn tubes have flattened sides which are inclined forwardly toward each other, see for instance Fig. 5.

By referring to Fig. 9 it will be seen that the reinforcing fin 25 is tapered as at 60 toward the ends of the tube frame. Those parts of the fin near the longitudinal center thereof are of full width and extend to a point above the top wall of the carrier bar and about half way around the spool. A center bearing 6| for adjacent ends of the inner spools SI and S2 extends vertically from the bar 20 to the fin along a diameter of the latter and connects it to the bar. This bearing is secured to the fin and bar at 62 and 63, respectively, and enables the bar and fin mutually to brace each other near the lengthwise center of the tube frame.

Intermediate spool bearings 65 hinged to the top of bar 20 can be swung away from center bearing 6| after the end spools are removed and the opposite ends of spools SI and S2 can then be raised without interference by taper 60 of fin 25, see dotted lines, Fig. 9, and. then moved longitudinally a slight distance for disengagement with the center bearing. The adjacent ends of these spools can then be moved horizontally to the left as viewed in Fig. 3 away from fin 25.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided an improved Axminster loom tube frame the carrier bar of which is formed of a single piece of non-corroding light weight metal having formed integral therewith a reinforcing fin 25 the longitudinal central parts of which as shown in Figs. 3 and 5 extend substantially half way around the spool S. Because of the form of the reinforcing fin the tube frame will be braced against substantial sagging when in the position shown in Fig. 6 as well as when in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The center bearing BI enables the central parts of the bar and fin to brace each other. It will also be seen that the yarn tubes 40, 50 or 55 are seamless and their wider parts adjacent the side 43 of the yarn passage 4| are free from sharp edges or corners which in 30 may be of full width. All metallic parts of the -tubeframe,"such as the carrier bar, plates 45, and .yarn tubes, which can engage the tuft yarns are 'made of non-corroding "or non-rusting metal, 1 such as'magnesiumor aluminum or alloys there- :of for the carrier bar, and preferably though not necessarily stainless steel for the yarn tubes and plates 45. Also, in'the modified forms of the invention shown in Figs. 7 and 8 the upper ends of thetuft yarn tubes are made differently from those heretofore used for the purpose of deflecting a knot in a strand of tuft yarn toward the wider part 43 of the yarn passage 4|.

Having thus described my invention it will be seen that changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, but what I claim is:

1. In a tube frame for an Axminster loom, a carrier bar extending lengthwise of the tube frame and having top and rear integral walls, a yarn spool supported on the top wall, a reinforcing fin integral with said top and rear walls curving rearwardly and upwardly and then forwardly and upwardly to a point over the top wall of the bar, and a vertically extending bearing for the spool intermediate the ends of the tube frame secured to the bar and fin to enable said bar and fin to brace each other.

2. In a tube frame for an Axminster loom, a carrier bar extending lengthwise of the tube frame and having top and rear integral walls, a yarn spool supported on the top wall, a reinforcing fin integral with said top and rear walls curving rearwardly and upwardly and then forwardly and upwardly to a point over the top wall of the bar, and a vertically extending bearing for the spool intermediate the ends of the tube frame secured to and extending upwardly from said top wall and secured to said fin at said point over said top wall, said bearing establishing mutual supporting relation between the bar and fin.

3. In a tube frame for an Axminster loom, a carrier bar extending lengthwise of the tube frame and having integral top and rear walls, a yarn spool supported on the top wall, a reinforcing fin integral with said top and rear walls curving rearwardly and upwardly and then forwardly and upwardly to a point over the top wall of the bar, said fin being substantially semi-circular in cross section and extending around substantially half of the spool, and a vertically extending bearing for the spool intermediate the ends of the tube frame secured to the top wall and to the fin at said point above the bar and extending along a diameter of the fin to enable the bar and fin to support each other.

4. In a tube frame for an Axminsterloom, a carrier bar having integral front, back, top and bottom walls, a support bracket having an arm extending into the bar along the bottom of the top wall and having a second arm extending into the bar and extending along the top of the bottom wall, said arms extending between the front and back walls, yarn tube carrying units extending .along the outside of the front wall, a

rib integral with the front wall between said arms and extending longitudinally of the bar on the inside thereof, and screws passing through said units and into said rib to secure said units to said front wall.

5; In a tube frame for an Axminster loom, a

carrier bar having integral front, back, top and bottom walls, a rib formed integral with the front wall on the inside of the bar and spaced from the ,top and bottom walls, a support bracket for the tube frame having two parallelarms extending into the bar on opposite-sides of therib and secured one to the top wall and the other to the bottom wall, said rib being between said parallel arms, yarn tube units'along the outside of the ,front wall, and-means extending into said rib securing the units to said front wall.

WALTER Y. ROBB.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

